Do you think people will stop wearing the yellow “Livestrong” bracelets now that Lance Armstrong has been officially discredited? I am seeing lots of online advertising for the Livestrong line, which I had not noticed before the most recent developments — maybe close-out specials. Will anyone want to be seen in Livestrong gear?

For a while there, the bands were ubiquitous — obvious on the wrists of celebrities, politicians, athletes, as well as ordinary folks in the neighborhood, friends, children. It seemed to be a quasi-religious symbol — subtle, in that it is small, but bold in that even if partially concealed by long sleeves, the bright yellow would immediately identify the wearer with “Livestrong.” I’m not sure exactly what it signifies, but it carries some kind of admirable sentiments and a feeling of solidarity. Like a wristwatch, it rarely interferes with the wearer’s activity or wardrobe, and being waterproof it never has to be removed, so it can become a permanent fixture which identifies the wearer as a caring person and “one of us.”

Will Livestrong enthusiasts be embarrassed to think that they had been overcome by emotion, and quietly remove their yellow bands? (I wonder if they are acceptable in recycling bins, or if they go in the regular trash.)

Laura writes:

I know little about this, other than that the Livestrong website promotes One World-ism, which must be why the bands are, or were, so popular. What the heck is a “global cancer community?” Communities by their very nature are not global.

—– Comments —-

Terry Morris writes:

I’d never heard of this until I read Texanne’s comments this morning. Which means, I guess, that I live in some sort of bubble. But it sounds to me a lot like breast cancer “awareness.” The more aware the “global community” is of breast cancer, the more “awareness” must be promoted. Hence we have pink fire engines and pink police cruisers, etc., etc…

I would venture to guess that the discrediting of Lance Armstrong will not affect the pursuit of global cancer awareness. Look for yellow fire trucks and yellow police cruisers, and perhaps yellow U.S. aircraft carriers, since it is now declared, in no uncertain terms, that the U.S. Navy is a “Global Force for Good.”